Hemelkaart met een theorie over epicykels 1660 - 1708

This intricate 17th-century celestial map, "Hemelkaart met een theorie over epicykels", was created by Dutch artist Johannes van Loon. The detailed illustration depicts the Ptolemaic model of the universe, a geocentric system with Earth at the center. The map is ornamented with cherubs and clouds, creating a visually captivating and educational piece of scientific art. The use of epicycles and circles to represent planetary motion reflects the prevailing scientific thought of the time. This map provides valuable insight into the scientific knowledge of the era and showcases the beautiful artistic detail that was often incorporated into scientific illustrations during this period.